Erhürman Wins in Northern Cyprus: A New Chapter for Cyprus Talks and Greece-Turkey Relations

The victory of Tufan Erhürman in the “presidential elections” in the occupied north of Cyprus, securing 62.76% of the vote against 35.81% for Erdogan’s favored candidate Ersin Tatar, marks a significant shift in the political landscape of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Turkey’s response was cautious: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated Erhürman and emphasized the need for close cooperation with Turkey on regional foreign policy. Meanwhile, the Greek government and the leadership of the Republic of Cyprus have welcomed the outcome as an opportunity to resume substantive negotiations on the Cyprus issue, in line with UN and EU resolutions.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, stated: “I congratulate the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, respecting the decision of the Turkish Cypriots, and look forward to meeting him as soon as possible. The solution to the Cyprus problem must be based on UN resolutions and European Union values.”

Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis also emphasized that Greece will support the resumption of negotiations, stressing that “divisions have no place in today’s turbulent international context.”

Erhürman’s victory is viewed as positive for the island’s reunification, as he supports a Bizonal, Bicommunal Federation and rejects the two-state solution promoted by Ankara via Tatar. However, his early statements indicate that foreign policy will be closely coordinated with Turkey, adding a layer of cautious compromise for future negotiations.

Opposition and progressive forces in Cyprus and Greece, including Alexis Tsipras and Sokratis Famellos, welcomed the victory as a “breath of diplomatic hope” and called for the immediate resumption of talks from where they left off at Crans-Montana.

Erhürman’s election may also serve as a key geopolitical signal for the Eastern Mediterranean, highlighting the importance of peaceful coexistence, cooperation, and unity between Greek and Turkish Cypriots within the European framework.

Overall, Erhürman’s win opens a new chapter for the Cyprus issue: it combines the hope of renewed dialogue with the necessity of careful balancing between Turkey and Cyprus, laying the groundwork for a federated solution that ensures peace and stability in the region.

Sources:

• Sunday Times, for election results and Erhürman’s statements
• ERT, regarding Turkey-Turkish Cypriot cooperation commentary
• ANA-MPA (Athens News Agency), for statements from Christodoulides, Gerapetritis, and Greek political parties